Detachable safety guard for bathing table



Jan. 20, 1959 J. w. KENNEDY ET AL 2,869,949

DETACHABLE SAFETY GUARD'FOR BATHING TABLE Filed June 25. 1958 INVENTORS JACK w. KENNEDY JAMES A. RANSOM ATTORNEYS United States Patent DETACHABLE SAFETY GUARD FOR BATHING TABLE Jack W. Kennedy, Rochester, and James A. Ransom, Henrietta, N. Y.

This invention relates to infants bathing devices of the type having a collapsible frame which supports a foldable bath tub, and has for its object the provision of an improved device of this type. The invention is particularly concerned with infants bathing devices having a table that overlies the tub which is provided with a screen guard to prevent the infant from rolling off the table.

The invention provides an improved screen guard that is removably attached to the table and has three sides, a back side and two wing sides, which not only prevents the infant from falling off the sides and ends of the table but which protects it from drafts.

The screen guard is particularly constructed to be removably attached to a table having a surrounding frame, or similar front, back and side reinforcing edges. The improved screen guard comprises a rear frame and two pivotally connected side frames which are covered with a fabric screen. The frames are preferably made of metal bar, rod or wire. The rear frame extends along the rear edge of the table and has means for removably connecting it to the table frame. The side frames are in pivotal connection with each end of the back frame and are provided with means for removably securing the free end-portions thereof to the sides of the table frame. The side frames can be folded into fiat parallelism with the back frame. One of the important features of the invention is the means for connecting the screen guard to the table frame. The rear frame has an upright post at each end integral with a longitudinal bar and a laterally disposed end connector which extends inwardly for insertion into a hole in the table frame. Each side frame is pivotally connected to the post of the rear frame and has a free end with a laterally disposed end connector for insertion into a hole in the table frame. In connecting the frames to the table edges or frame, the posts of the rear frame are sprung outwardly to permit the end connection to snap into the holes due to the resiliency of the metal. Each of the side frames has its lateral connector extending outwardly so that when it is inserted into a hole in the table frame the infant cannot effect its disconnection by applying pressure thereon. In effecting the removal of the screen guard the end connectors are removed by first swinging the side frames inwardly in the direction of their folded positions against the rear frame.

These and other novel features of the invention will be better understood after considering the following discussion taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an infants bathing device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the frame of the screen guard;

Fig. 3 is a front view of the screen guard frame when folded, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the pivot connection of the side frame to the rear frame.

The improved infants bathing device illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises front legs 1 and 2 and rear legs 3 and 4 "ice 2 which form two pairs of collapsible cross-legs. The legs 1 and 2 are integral with a longitudinal bar 5 and the legs 3 and 4 are integral with a longitudinal front bar 6. The cross-legs are pivotally connected together by pins 7 and 8 which also support the pivotally mounted shelf 9.

The foldable tub 10 formed of a waterproof fabric .or like material is supported on the longitudinal bars Sand .6.

A table 11 shown in the drawing in its operative posi= tion overlying the tub comprises a surrounding metal frame having side bars 12 and 13 and front and rear bars 14. and 15, respectively. A metal table stamped out'of sheet metal such as aluminum maybe used. Such tables have a formed surrounding rim to. which the screen guard may be attached as to the frame shown in Fig.1. The table is pivotally connected to the arms 16 and 17 which are attached to the operating rod 18. When the foot pedal 20 is operated, the connecting rod 21 causes the table to be swung from its position illustrated in Fig. 1 to an inoperative vertical position at the rear of the tub. When the table is in this position the legs may be folded together in which case the tub collapses and the shelf 9 assumes a position parallel to the folded cross-legs. The entire structure accordingly .can be placed in a substantially flat position.

The screen guard 22 is formed in three sections, a rear section 23 and two side sections 24 and 25. The rear section is formed of a metal frame consisting of two upright posts 26 and 27 which are integral with a longitudinal bar 28. This frame is preferably formed of a heavy wire or small rod. The terminal ends of the posts 26 and 27 are bent inwardly to form the connector ends 29 and 30, respectively.

The side sections of the screen guard are formed of frames 32 and 33 of material similar to that of the rear frame. As best shown in Fig. 4, the ends of the side frames are bent in the form of a U and are held in pivotal connection with the posts 26 and 27 by the sheet metal collars 34 and 35, respectively. These collars are preferably welded to the upright posts so that they are maintained in proper position. The frames 32 and 33 are preferably sloped away from the back frame as illustrated in the drawings and the terminal end portions or free ends are bent laterally in an outwardly direction to form the connector ends 36 and 37. In order to prevent these ends from injuring the. infant they are preferably covered with rubber caps 38 and 39 which also aid in securing them to the table.

As best shown in Fig. 1 the frame consisting of the back frame and the two side frames is covered with a fabric screen guard 40 which is formed of a double layer of fabric slipped over the metal frames.

The screen guard is attached to the frame of the table by springing the posts 26 and 27 outwardly so that the connector ends 29 and 39 can enter holes in the side frames 12 and 13 by reason of the resiliency in the metal. The side frames 32 and 33 are swung outwardly and the laterally disposed connector ends 36 and 37 are pushed into holes in the side frames 12 and 13. It will be apparent that the rear frame is held by connector ends that extend inwardly and the side framesare held by connector ends that extend outwardly. This means of connection holds the screen guard in a stable and secure position. Any pressure that might be exerted against the sides by the infant will only result in forcing the connections to the table more securely.

One important feature of the screen guard is that when the side sections are folded into flat position against the rear section the rear section can be pivoted on its connector ends 29 and 30 and can be folded into a flat position against the table. This enables the entire device to be arranged in a flat position for packing without removing the screen guard. However, the entire screen guard may be removed very easily and folded into a flat position as illustrated in Fig. 3, if desired. There is also an advantage in the construction which makes it possible to fold the screen guard while it is attached as this eliminates the need for assembling separate parts by the purchaser.

We claim:

1. An improved screen guard for removal attachment to the table of an infants bathing device which comprises a rear section and two side sections, the rear section including a metal rear frame having two upright posts and an integral longitudinal member, the'end portions of the posts having laterally disposed end connectors extending inwardly for insertion into holes in the table of the device, two side frames each being pivotally connected to a post of the rear frame and each having an end connector extending outwardly for insertion into a hole in the table, and a screen of flexible sheet material mountedover said 4. frames, said screen, guard providing protection on three sides of the table and being foldable to a flat position against the table.

2. A screen guard as defined in claim 1 which comprises end connectors for the rear frame which extend in the longitudinal direction of the table and on which the screen guard can be pivoted to the flat position against the table.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Reinholz Oct. 26, 1943 

